ART graduate Kirsty Ashcroft has made her new business a familyaffair by teaming up with her mum Lynn.

The entrepreneurs gotSanctuary Café, near PaisleyAbbey, off the ground with a helping hand from the team at Business Gateway.

They are now having their cake and eating it by combining their talents to make a go of things.

When Kirsty, 24, graduated from university, with a Master’s degree in History of Art, she had no idea that in less than a year she would be running her own coffee shop and she would never have dreamed of going into business with 53-year-old Lynn.

Lynn was in the family stationery business for almost 30 years while Kirsty worked part-time in restaurants while she studied.

After graduating, Kirsty moved back home but found it hard to find a job related to her degree – and this sparked the pair’s new venture.

The cafe, in Gauze Street, opened last month and has the ambience of a vintage tearoom, with home baking and quality coffees.

Kirsty said: “We absolutely love running our own coffee shop and the feedback has been brilliant so far. I had always thought it would be nice to have a coffee shop in my home town, but I neverimagined it would happen,especially with my mum as my business partner.

“When she decided to take a step back from the stationery company it was my gain and we are really enjoying working together.” Lynn said: “I’ve really enjoyed doing something totally different and to share it with Kirsty makes it even more special.”

Business Gateway adviser Charles Fraser believes their mother-and daughter bond is a great asset. He said: “Their bond hastransferred in to the work place and so far is proving asuccess. Despite Lynn’s businessexperience, they approached us for our expert advice which we were happy to give.”